Double-deck stock-car



(No Model.) 2 sheets-Sheet 1.

' B. C. HICKS.

DOUBLE DECK STOCK CAR.

. Patented Mar. 31

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. B. C. HICKS.

. DOUBLE DECK STOCK CAR.

No. 449,621. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

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A NITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

SOHN CIIAPIN IIICKS, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE HICKS STOCK CAR COMPANY, OEv

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DOUBLE-DECK STOCK-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,621, dated March 31, 1891.

Application led February 17, 1890. Serial No. 340,786. (No model.)

To all whom t may conc-cru:

Be it known that I, BOHN OHAPIN HICKS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Convertible Double-Deck Stock-Cars, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to certain improve ments in the construction of what are commonly known as double-deck stock-cars, although some of its features may be used in stockcars in which the double deck is not present. Its principal feature consists in the combination, with a double-deck car in which the upper deck is removable and watertronghs are also present, so that the car can be converted into an ordinary stock-car for cattle, of swinging brackets `located in the wall of the car above the watering-trougl'is and carrying planking,which,when the brackets are in their normal position, will serve as a part of the upper deck and also as a lid or cover for the watering-troughs.

The invention further consists in the novel construction and combination of t-he several parts hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figurel is a transverse vertical section of a car to which my present improvements have been applied. Fig. 2 is a View in perspective of the outside of the car, showing the hinged lid carrying brackets swung outward, so as to uncover the watering-troughs.

In the drawings, A represents the wall of the car,'B the removable upper deck, and C the watering-troughs. Pivoted in the wall of the car at (Z are a Series of short brackets D, which carry the planking E, and which latlatter, when in their normal position, (indicated by the full lines at Fig. 1,) are located immediately above the watering-troughs, so as to form covers therefor. Said planking also serves when in said position as a part of the upper deck, as is apparent from the drawings.

lVhen the car is to be converted into a cattlc-car, the deck B isremoved, and the bracksuch eccentric to the brackets at either ets D may then he swung Outward to the position shown by the broken lines at'Fig. 1 and in full lines at Fig. 2 whenever the cattle need be watered. The mechanism by which the brackets are swung outward in this manner consists of the lever F, joined to an eccentric fat the end of the car, and connections from side of the car, so that both may be Operated simultaneously by said lever F. These connections preferably consist of cOnneCtingrOds Gr, levers g g,shaft G,links II,and studs 7i on the brackets. The brackets at each side of the car may also carry the outside slats 2, and all of them upon one side of each half of the car, being united by these slats and by the planking E, ot` course move together. When the brackets are to be returned to their normal position, the lever and eccentric are simply reversed, and they then lock the parts so that the cattle cannot push them out. The beltry-rails J, by which the cross-bars L of the upper deck are supported, are located in front of the troughlids or planking E and serve as a further security to the lids against being dislodged by the Stock.

Y I claim- 1. In a stock-car, the Side posts thereof, watering-troughs located between said side posts, and a removable upper deck located when in position for use in substantially the same horizontal plane as said troughs, in combination with brackets pivoted between each` pair of side posts, the pivot-al points of said brackets being located above Said troughs and said brackets being so pivoted that their lower ends vswing outwardly, each pair of brackets carrying at their lower ends a plank or lid which when said brackets occupy their normal position Serves both as a cover for the trough therebeneath and as an extension between the side posts of the upper deck, said brackets being capable of swinging outwardly far enough to uncover' said troughs, substantially as set forth.

2. In a stock-car, the side posts thereof, watering-troughs located between said side posts, and a removable upper deck located when in position for use in Substantially the same horizontal plane as said troughs, in com- IOO bination with a pair of brackets pivotcd bctwcen each pair of side posts, the pivotal points of said brackets being located above said troughs and said brackets being so pivoted that their lower end s swing outwardly, each pair of brackets carrying at their lower ends a plank or lid which when said brackets occupy their normal position serves both as a cover for the trough therebeneath and as an extension between the side posts of the upper deck, said brackets being capable of swinging outwardly far enough to uncover said troughs, and said brackets carrying' slats 'L' '27, which constitute when the brackets are in their normal position part of the exterior boarding of the car, substantially as set forth.

In a stock-car, the side posts thereof, watering-troughs located between said side posts, and a removable upper deck located when in position for use in substantially the same horizontal plane as the said wateringtroughs, in combination with a pair of brack ets pivoted between each pair of side posts, the pivotal points of said brackets being located above said troughs, and said brackets being so pivoted that their lower ends swing outwardly, each pair of brackets carrying at their lower ends a plank or lid which when said brackets occupy their normal position serves both as a cover for the trough therebeneath and as an extension between said side posts of the upper deck, said brackets being capable of swinging outwardly far enough to uncover said troughs, and longitudinal slats 2 t', extending along the sides of the car, said slats being secured to the outer edges ot' a plurality of said pairs of brackets, whereby said slats perform a threefold function, to wit: first, they constitute when the brackets are in their normal position a portion of the side walls of theear; second, theyenable a plurality of the pairs of brackets to be operated simultaneously, and, third, they constitute stops to prevent the inward swinging of the brackets7 substantially as set forth.

4. In a stock-ear, the side posts thereof and watering-troughs located between said side posts, in combination with outwardly-swinging covers or lids, one for each of said troughs,

or covers, a plurality of crank-arms on said shaft, and links connecting said crank-arms and said lids or covers, substantially as set forth. Y

5, In a stock-car, the side posts on opposite sides thereof, watering-troughs located between said side posts on both sides of the car, and a removable upper deck located when in position for useV in substantially the same horizontal plane as said troughs,in combination with a pair of brackets pivoted between each pair of side posts, the pivotal points of said brackets beinglocated above said troughs and said brackets being so pivoted that their lower ends swing outwardly, each pair of brackets carrying at their lower ends a plank or lid which when said brackets occupy their normal position serves both as a cover for the trough therebeneath and as an extension between said side posts of the upper deck, said brackets being capable of swingingoutwardly far enough to uncover said troughs, longitudinal slats z i, extending along each side of the car, said slats on each side of the car being secured to the outer edges of a plurality of said pairs of brackets, whereby said slats perform a threefold function, to wit: first, they constitute when the brackets are in their normal position a port-ion of the side walls of the car; second, they enable a plurality of the pairs of brackets to be operated simultaneously, and, third, they constitute stops to prevent the inward swinging of the brackets, a longitudinal shaft Gr on each side of the car, a plurality of crank-arms g on each shaf t, a plurality of links IVI, connecting said crankarms and said brackets, an operating-wheel fon the end of the car, crank-arms g on the end of each shaft, and links G, connecting said crank-arms g with said wheel f, substantially as set forth.

BOIIN CIIAPIN HICKS. lVtnesses:

II. M. MUNDAY, Einw. S. Evan'rs. 

